Text: HEB.12:14-16
INTRODUCTION
Years ago in Germany, there was a young Jewish boy who had a profound sense of admiration for his father. His family ’s life centered on the acts of piety and devotion prescribed by their religion. The father was zealous in attending worship and religious instruction, and he demanded the same from his children.
While the boy was a teenager, the family was forced to move to another town in Germany. There was no synagogue in the new town, and the pillars of the community all belonged to the Lutheran church. Suddenly the father announced to the family that they were going to abandon their Jewish traditions and join the Lutheran church. When the stunned family asked why, the father explained that changing religions was necessary to help his business.
The youngster was bewildered and confused.
His deep disappointment soon gave way to anger and a kind of intense bitterness that plagued him throughout his life. That disappointed son, disillusioned by his father’s lack of integrity, eventually left Germany and went to England to study. He sat daily at the British Museum, formulating various ideas and writing a book. In that work, he introduced an entirely new world-view, envisioning a movement that would change the social and political systems of the world.
Drawing from past experiences with his father, he described religion as an “opiate for the masses” that could be explained totally in terms of economics and personal gain. Today, millions of people still live under the system invented by this embittered man, and millions more suffered under previous regimes that incorporated its values. His name, of course, was Karl Marx, and his idea was communism. And it all began with his father’s misuse of the name of God for the sake of profit.
Bitterness is the result of a hurtful action, whether intentional or not, of another person. The pain of that action eats away at our trust for others leaving us to conclude that everyone is a potential threat. We know in our soul that this is not right and try to deal with it by eliminating the symptoms of anger, sadness and depression only to have them crop back up again at another time. There is a perfect remedy found in Jesus Christ that will completely heal and eliminate the root of bitterness.
WHAT IS BITTERNESS?
Grk – PIKROS i.e
Sharp, Pointed, Keen, Pungent, Virulent, Harsh
Please Note:
It is often hidden – V.14-16
Under the surface/radar
Absorbs, stores and projects hurts
Often get implanted and so difficult to rid of.
It is contagious – v15
Communicable i.e passed from one to another.
Thrives on negative emotions
Almost always it is against people who are or were close to us at one time or the other – Col.3:13
It is the manifestation of unforgiveness and grudge – Math.5:23; 6:14.
The Problems with Bitterness
Hinders the grace of God on our lives –V.15a
Causes defilement for the individual and others it contacts – v15b
Waste of grace and opportunities – v16
Health complications – v12-13
TWO CASE STUDIES IN THE BIBLE
Absalom:
Cause: 2Sam.13:1-2
Revenge plot (1): 2Sam.13:19-29
Revenge Plot (2): 2Sam.15:12-14
Who was Ahithopel
He was:
A trusted adviser of David – 2Sam.15:12a
David’s Council member – “
A devout worshipper – 2Sam.15:12b
A man of great wisdom – 2Sam.16:23
A man of great influence – 2Sam.15:12d
WHAT WAS HIS COUNSEL?
Read: 2Sam.16:20-23
What led to this kind of wicked counsel from a man of such status?
His background – 2Sam.23:34
The offense – 2Sam.11:2-4
The Result – The wicked counsel – 2Sam.16:20-23
The End
Ahitophel – 2Sam.17:14, 23
Absalom – 2Sam.18:8-15
Joah killed Absalom because of previous offense too: 2Sam.14:30-33
King Solomon killed Joab -1Kings 2:30-34
BITTER PEOPLE
They prefer to die than to see others succeed “the over my dead body syndrome”
They are offended or angry over a matter but choose to be quiet
They lie in wait for an opportunity or the most effective time to strike.
They are full of pretenses and hypocrisies
Bitter people often have very legitimate cases but they end up hanging or hurting themselves and others near them.
Bitterness is a spirit. It finds itself. It is a kindred spirit –bitter people locate and recruit each other.
GOD’S JUDGEMENT ON BITTER PEOPLE
Read Psm.64:2-7
CURE FOR BITTERNESS
Recognize your bitterness and realize it is a problem – Eph.4:31
See it as a sin and come to God for help and forgiveness. Confess it as a sin against God.
Receive God’s forgiveness – I John 1:9
Take actions to bless the other party
Seek help if you cannot handle it.
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